Smile and the whole world smiles with you! Cry and you’ll cry alone. This idiom has been passed down for generations as containing at least a kernel of truth, and researchers have studied the impact smiling has on one’s well-being for centuries. As is the case with most research, its findings have changed over the course of millennia, but in the case of smiling, more recent findings have found even more benefits than original researchers did.
Reasons to Smile More
Of course, there are social benefits to smiling more. People enjoy interacting with someone whose smile makes them appear friendly, warm, and engaging. It’s easy and enjoyable to be around someone who laughs and smiles easily, and whose grin is like a beam of light when they see you. Not only are you more approachable but smiling improves the quality of your relationships. Did you know that smiling makes you more productive at work and helps relieve some of your stress, as well? A genuine smile or big hearty laugh can elevate your own mood because both release good hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. Researchers at the University of Kansas have even found that, in addition to social and emotional benefits of smiling, a genuine smile even has a positive effect on physical health. Their research indicates that smiling even helps protect the heart, especially as it recovers after a stressful event.
Creating an Abundance of Smiles
Let’s face it; life is stressful. We’re in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and we’re all trying to figure out how to navigate through it. Smiling may not happen as frequently or easily as it did before 2020. But, to live your best life despite our current circumstances, there are several things you can do to smile more and improve your overall well-being. For example, you can
- Read something that makes you laugh
- Watch a comedic movie or television show
- Spend time with friends who make you laugh
- Watch a TED talk or listen to a humorous or uplifting podcast
- Sift through photographs and enjoy memories of times you loved
- Socialize with incredibly positive people whose energy boosts yours and whose outlook on life means you can’t help but smile
- Find ways to laugh at yourself and the absurd things that occur in your life
Feeling Confident in Your Smile
While all of the suggestions above are useful, you will smile more if you feel your smile is attractive. You will be more confident and open to engaging and sharing your happiness. There are many ways that Hanson Dental in Buffalo, MN can help you create and maintain the gorgeous smile you want to present to the world. We use the latest in modern dental care methods and technology to provide general dental care for the whole family. We also provide cosmetic dental procedures, orthodontia, implants, neuromuscular dentistry, and even Juvaderm and Botox in a warm, caring environment focused on your comfort.
We’d be happy to help you create the most beautiful smile possible. Make an appointment to see us soon so the whole world can smile with you!
Image credit: Unsplash.